Lower School

Shawna Marshall,  Kindergarten
Brigham Young University-Idaho, BA
George Mason University, M.Ed.

Quote: “Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” —Anonymous

Born and raised in Montana, Shawna Marshall began her teaching careerwhen she joined Teach For America, a program designed to eliminate theeducation gap in America. At the end of the two-year commitment, Shawnawas deeply passionate about teaching children.

Shawna has specialized in teaching Early Childhood education, andencourages her students to work hard, be kind, and become independent.She combines educational best practices with a practical understandingof day-to-day learning.

Having been raised in Montana, Shawna is a western girl. She lovesmusic, reading, hiking, and skiing.  She especially loves living in themountains and developing new skills. email > 

 

Chloe Hensold, 1st Grade
Hamilton College, BA
Lesley University, M.Ed.

Quote:  "Throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."  — Mark Twain 

ChloeHensold grew up in Boston, Cleveland and London.  While she wasstudying math and art at Hamilton College, her family moved to Bozeman,Montana where she had her first taste of mountain living.

In WashingtonDC, Chloe began teaching in lower school art and science classrooms.After moving back to Boston, she taught first and second grade whilecompleting a master's degree in elementary education.  Chloe then movedto New York where she taught kindergarten and first grade, coachedmiddle school soccer and served as a mentor to new associate teachers.

After many years on the East Coast, Chloe is excited to move to ParkCity. Chloe spends her free time exploring, skiing, and kayaking.  Sheenjoys cooking and experimenting in the kitchen trying to create theperfect oatmeal cookie. email >

Martha Polichette, 2nd Grade

University of Utah, BS

Quote: "I find that the harder I work the more luck I seem to have."—Thomas Jefferson

Teaching was a second career for Martha Polichette. Her first lovewas being a wife and mother of two sons. But she always wanted to be ateacher and went back to school at the University of Utah. She worked inseveral public schools throughout Utah until graduation and taughtfourth grade for one year at an independent school in Salt Lake City.

Once Martha experienced the difference in the philosophy of teachingbetween independent and public schools, she knew independent schoolingwas the ideal place for her. She then discovered a great, independentschool in Park City and has remained there for fourteen years. Shecurrently teaches second grade and loves every minute of it. She wasnominated Teacher of the Year in 2000 and was inducted into NationalHonor Roll’s Outstanding American Teachers for Exceptional Performancein 2006.

Whenever possible, Martha works on landscaping, walks, skis, andspends time with her family. She especially loves to travel abroad withher husband to visit the many places included in her curriculum. Hernext adventure is rock climbing with one of her two sons. email >

 

Jill Cramer, 3rd Grade

Lake Erie College, BA SUNY at Albany, MS

Quote: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take,  butby every moment that takes your breath away.”     —Anonymous

Jill Cramer has taught 2nd grade in Catskill, NY and 1st grade inDhahran, Saudi Arabia with the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO).Her first year at ARAMCO, she received the Outstanding Teacher Award.During her employment there, she was also the Reading Specialist forK-5, and taught Kindergarten and 2nd grade. In addition to her teachingexperiences, she worked as a Training Coordinator, developingprofessional courses for the Purchasing Department, and a ComputerInstructor.

When Jill and her husband, Dan, returned to the states and settled inPark City, they started an export company and currently own and operateseveral companies worldwide. After spending time in the business world,Jill went back into teaching at Park City Academy, where she taught 3rdgrade for ten years and received the Excellence Educator Award.

Outside of work, Jill is a private pilot who also loves skiing, scubadiving, and traveling. She was also a dancer in a theatrical company.Her goal is to visit 100 countries and bring geography alive for herstudents. email >

Janice Brewster, 4th Grade

University of Utah, BS

Quote: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the lifeyou have imagined.” —Henry David Thoreau

After graduating from the University of Utah, Janice Brewster beganher teaching career in Jackson Hole, WY, working at a residential schoolfor students with severely and profoundly handicapping conditions.After returning to Utah, she taught in a variety of settings, includingthe Jordan School District and parochial schools.

Over the past 25 years, Janice has taught reading, honors English andlanguage arts, and has coached volleyball, basketball and cheerleading.She is passionate about children and loves to help each child discoverhis or her unique talents and gifts.

An avid gardener and novice decorator, Janice likes to spend timewith her sisters, daughter and son-in-law. When she’s not working, shecan be found walking, watching movies, and learning to play the guitar. email >

Amy Cheney-Seymour, 5th Grade
SUNY Albany, BA

Quote: Things are not what they appear to be: nor are they otherwise.
—Surangama Sutra

Amy grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, in the small town of Saranac Lake known best for famous winter carnivals and splendid lake-side summers. Her childhood was spent riding horses and exploring the nearby woods, lakes and mountains. She attended the University at Albany where she studied French and English Literature and played on the women's soccer team. After graduation, she studied and traveled in Europe, and then moved to Portland, Oregon where she began her teaching career as a grade-two teacher at the French American School.  

After reconnecting with her future husband and long-time friend, Kris Seymour, Amy returned to the east coast and attended Antioch New England Graduate School where she began her masters in Environmental Education. During those years, Amy taught every level of HS French at National Sports Academy in Lake Placid, NY and then later at Hoosic Valley Central School in NY.

When Amy relocated to northern Maine with her family, Amy homeschooled her two children, served as Head Women’s Soccer Coach at the University of Maine at Presque Isle and traveled to the Dominican Republic as a translator and coach providing AIDS/HIV education through Grassroots Soccer.  Since their return to the Adirondacks five years ago, Amy has taught grades 3 and 4 at the Northern Lights School, and served as a tutor for the US Freestyle Ski Team at the nearby Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, while teaching riding lessons and managing a riding school at their family farm.

Amy is passionate about the opportunities to blend areas of study as an independent school homeroom teacher, believing those cross-curricular connections promote deeper understanding for students and valuable collaboration with talented colleagues in other disciplines.  Outside the classroom, Amy spends her time with her husband and two sons Lauchlan and Colter in many outdoor adventures including riding, hiking, biking, skiing, camping and otherwise exploring the landscape in which they live. email >